One Guard

The NBA All-Star Weekend ended perfectly with Yiyang holding the MVP trophy for a photo. This year's All-Star Game did not leave many impressive images for the fans, but there was nothing wrong either. But getting through it smoothly can be considered a victory.

After the All-Star Game, Yiyang and Vignali said goodbye on the spot in New Orleans. As they spend more and more time together, each time they say goodbye, they become more and more reluctant to say goodbye.

A few days ago, Yiyang felt like he was about to die in bed. But at the moment of parting, Yiyang suddenly felt that what they had done was completely insufficient.

"When summer comes, I hope to receive your championship ring." Before leaving, Vignali smiled and shook her empty hand.

In fact, the Italian girl was changing her direction and telling Yiyang. "Xia Tian, ​​I'm waiting for you to marry me."

Of course, Yiyang, a blockhead like him, couldn't understand this meaning. He nodded to Vignelie and waved goodbye.

Two hours later, Yiyang also boarded his own flight and headed for Dallas. Since there is a game tomorrow on the 18th, the Mavericks' training will return to normal this afternoon.

In other words, from the moment Yiyang stepped on the plane, his holiday life was over. No matter how relaxed he had been the past few days, he had to be alert now. The regular season has not yet ended, and the fighting is still going on. And tomorrow's opponent will definitely make the Mavericks instantly feel the pressure brought by the official game!

The Mavericks have lost just five games so far this season. In five games, five completely different teams took the victory away from the Mavericks.

But these losses were basically due to Yiyang's suspension or the Mavericks' own poor condition. But there was only one game in which the Mavericks played normally, but still couldn't beat the opponent. This opponent is also the strong enemy that Carlisle and Yiyang are most worried about this season. They are the defending champion Miami Heat, who have dominated the league for the past two years!

It seems that the relationship between the Heat and the Mavericks has always been ongoing.

In 2006, with the Mavericks leading 2-0 in the Finals, they lost four games in a row and their dream of a championship was ruined. And that year's finals made one person's name become famous throughout the league, Dwyane Wade.

In 2011, the Mavericks reached the Finals again, but the opponent they encountered was the Miami Heat. Although the two teams are now completely different from what they were back then. But fate still caused the Heat and the Mavericks to collide.

That year, the Heat were stunned by the Dallas Mavericks despite their on-paper lineup being too strong to match. In the end, they watched the Dallas Mavericks complete their revenge and win the O'Brien Trophy.

Coincidentally, in that year's finals, another young defender's name became well-known to everyone, and that was Yiyang.

Until this season, the Mavericks and Heat were believed by the media to meet again in the Finals. Although the probability of this prediction being accurate is not high, we have to admit that the two teams have indeed imagined each other as imaginary enemies in the finals. Therefore, every time they met, they played very hard, treating the regular season as the playoffs. Only by honing your strategies in the playoffs can you survive the playoffs safely.

Therefore, after losing to the Heat last time, the game against the Heat on the first day after the All-Star Game attracted the attention of the entire Mavericks team.

No matter where you play these days and what you do. No one is allowed to be absent or late for the training on the afternoon of the 17th. Carlisle is no longer going to meet the Heat in the finals with the result of being blocked by the Heat in the regular season. In that case, the team's morale will be at a disadvantage before the game starts.

Although the Mavericks and Heat may not necessarily reach the finals this season, as a head coach, you always have to prepare for all possibilities.

So, at four o'clock in the afternoon on the 17th, when Carlisle walked into the basketball court, he saw all the Mavericks players warming up seriously as usual. The tense atmosphere of the regular season returned instantly.

It's as if the All-Star break never happened.

Carlisle is quite pleased with the state of his players. These guys haven't been dazzled by victory yet. They know that they are still far from success!

While everyone is actively preparing for the game, on February 18, the most anticipated game after the NBA regular season resumed finally started at the American Airlines Center Arena!

Although there is still a strong collision between the Clippers and Spurs in the Western Conference today, ESPN decided to spend a lot of money to buy the exclusive national live broadcast rights of this game. They believe that the intensity of this game is unmatched by the competition between the Spurs and Clippers.

Before the game started, James, who had also just returned from the All-Star Game, looked in high spirits. He told reporters seriously that he would continue to treat this game as a playoff game and would not show mercy!

It seems that not only the Mavericks, but the Heat also attach great importance to this game. Ever since Yiyang beat James to win the MVP trophy last year, James has been quite afraid of Yiyang and the Mavericks.

Before the game started, James even gathered his teammates together to cheer each other on. This situation rarely occurs in other regular season games.

After the game started, the Heat quickly showed their strong side. The defending champions are not in vain. Although their regular season record this season is not as amazing as last year, they are still one of the best teams in the league.

After the opening, James relied on Iguodala to score 2+1. Iguodala is already the top physical player at the third position. Most small forwards in the league are facing off against Iguodala. There is no benefit to be gained.

But LeBron James can play with ease in front of Iguodala. This makes people sigh, LeBron is really invincible on the basketball court!

Subsequently, Bosh also began to shine in the fifth position. This season, the small lineup promoted by Spoelstra has achieved good results. Battier and James play the fourth position, and the effect is not as vulnerable as people think.

When Bosh plays center, it's easy for big men with poor perimeter defense to suffer. For example, Rudy Gobert.

Bosh frequently hits shots from the outside. Gobert may be an excellent frame protector, but the Frenchman has no experience with big men who can shoot.

Bosh shot away, and Gobert had to stay away from the three-second zone. As soon as Gobert steps out of the three-second zone, LeBron will be completely liberated again. Carlisle felt very uncomfortable seeing the Mavericks' iron-clad defense being treated like this. Are the Miami Heat really that powerful?

Fortunately, under Yiyang's organization, the Mavericks performed equally well on the offensive end. There was absolutely no pressure on Nowitzki to play Battier. The former Rockets captain could only block the German's goal by fouling.

As for Yiyang himself, he fought with ease. Chalmers, a skinny guy, is no match for Yiyang, and even if Spoelstra asked Wade to guard Yiyang personally, the effect would not be ideal.

Four years ago, Wade brought great trouble to Yiyang every time. But now, four years later, Wade's knees have begun to significantly reduce his lateral movement. There is no doubt that this will be a fatal flaw on the defensive end.

Watching Yiyang break through Wade again and again, Heat fans felt quite uncomfortable. The No. 3 team spirit showed signs of exhaustion in front of the young man.

The battle between the Heat and the Mavericks was not as disappointing as ESPN. Neither side could guard the other, and the score was always very anxious. The Mavericks have a better overall offense, while the Heat rely on the omnipotent James, and with the assistance of Bosh and Wade, they also play well.

Until 23 seconds before the end of the fourth quarter, James hit a chasing three-pointer from the outside, giving the Miami Heat a two-point lead! Iguodala tried his best, but once James started scoring mode, it was indeed difficult to contain him.

After this three-pointer, James' personal score has become 42 points. And the shooting percentage is an abnormal 69.6%!

"Andre also wanted to defend LeBron with his shot and not the sudden move, but he didn't expect LeBron to directly pursue the body and shoot a three-pointer, and the ball went in. You can't blame Andre, he made the right move. Judgment and choice. If you want to blame, blame LeBron for being too strong today!" After scoring 42 points under the defense of the Mavericks, Mike Breen was surprised by James' performance.

At this point, there is one last attack left in the game. The Mavericks were 2 points behind and wanted to win. Three-point shooting became the Mavericks' only hope.

After Carlisle's timeout ended, Yiyang also successfully dug out of the crowd according to tactics and received the sideline ball. Ke Yi Yanggang raised his head, but couldn't help being surprised.

At this time, the person standing in front of Yiyang was neither Chalmers nor Wade, but the Miami No. 6, LeBron James, with firm eyes that seemed to eat his opponent alive!

"Coach Spoelstra directly asked LeBron to defend him. This is really a bold decision!" Mike Breen's eyes widened. Tony Allen's almost negligible three-point ability was handed over to Cha. There's nothing wrong with Ermos' defense. There is a certain risk with Wade marking Iguodala. But taking a buzzer beater with Iguodala is a risk in itself.

If Carlisle dared to do anything and let Iguodala execute the decisive blow, Spoelstra would admit it. But the problem is that Carlisle doesn't have the determination at this time, he still wants Yiyang to give it a try!

So at the last moment, Yiyang had to face LeBron. Four years ago, James could only appear in front of Nowitzki. Now, four years later, that No. 6 has come to defend himself personally.

Yiyang was not afraid and delayed the start until the last 5 seconds. Taking advantage of Nowitzki and Gobert's double pick-and-roll, Yiyang walked one step beyond the three-point line in front of the basket and shot directly!

However, what surprised Yiyang was that James suddenly came out and stretched out his arms to block the shot. Yiyang didn't expect that James could catch up so quickly after being delayed by the pick-and-roll.

Usually, Yiyang has a height advantage when shooting. But facing James today, Yiyang's height advantage was instantly gone.

James' palm almost touched Yiyang's face. Yiyang could guarantee that the basketball would not be blocked, but whether he could score or not was another question.

The basketball went straight to the basket. Looking at the flat arc of the ball, Carlisle's heart suddenly "thumped". Normally, Yiyang's shot should have a higher arc.

Sure enough, the basketball hit the front of the basket, and at the same time, the red light on the backboard turned on. The Chinese defender who almost never misses failed today!

"Damn it!" Yiyang held his head in his hands in annoyance. This game that he shouldn't lose the most this season was eventually buried by his own hands.

Seeing the Heat players celebrating wildly, Yiyang felt quite uncomfortable. The loss of this game also means that the Mavericks were completely defeated by the Heat in the regular season this season!

Disappointed, Yiyang gritted his teeth. He knew very well that if he reached the finals, he still would not be able to climb the mountain of James. That championship ring is all empty talk!

Four years ago, Dirk put LeBron under his feet with his magical performance. Now four years later, it seems that Yiyang's desire to get over the shoulder of No. 6 is not as simple as imagined.

The seven-game winning streak ended and the Mavericks' losses increased to six games. But at this time, these are no longer important.

At this time, Yiyang no longer had those winning numbers in his mind. He only cares about one name now, LeBron James!